Vania



Patented Feb. l4, I899. A. W. BRDWNE.

H E A D R E ST.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1898.)

3 Sheats-Shaet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Feb. l4, I899.

No. 6l9,272.

A. W. BBOWNE.

HEAD BEST.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR:

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Patented Feb. l4, I899. A. W. BBOWNE.

HEAD REST.

(Application filed Aug. 11. 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheat 3.

(No Model.)

FIG. 6'.

FIG. K5.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR: W

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR IV. BROIVNE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TIIE S. S. WHITEDENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA.

HEAD-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,272, dated February14, 1899.

Application filed August 11, 1893. Serial No. 688,836. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. BRowNE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, (Princes Bay,) in the county of Richmond and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHead-Rests; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to head-rests for dental chairs; and it consists incertain improvements, which will be hereinafter fully described and thenspecifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a head-rest that is self-adjusting and comfortable to patients and also to provide a headrestsupport that is susceptible of a very wide range of adjustment and thatcan be quickly and easily adjusted and firmly locked in position.

My present improvements in some respects resemble the head-rest shownand described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 612,660,granted to me October 18, 1898, and I do not wish to be understood asclaiming herein anything shown or described in said patent.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters refer to similarparts throughout the different views, Figure 1 is a View in rearelevation of the back of a dental chair with my improved head-restapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the same. Fig. 3is a view in rear elevation, on an enlarged scale as compared with thepreceding views, of the head-rest proper, one of the pads of which isshown in section and the supportingarm being broken away. Fig. 4 isasectional view of one of the pads, the section being drawn at a rightangle to the section shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are differentviews of the ball member of one of the ball-andsocket joints for thehead-rest pads. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the chair-backand head-rest support on the lines 8 Bot Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 9 to 17,inclusive, are detail views of the separate parts of the clamp for thehead-rest-supporting arm, Fig. 9 being a view in elevation of the innerside of one member of the clamp, Fig. 10 a sectional view of said clampmember on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9, Fig. 11 an edge view of one sectionof the clamp-shoe, Fig. 12 a face view thereof, and Fig. 13 across-sectional view of the same. Fig. 14 is a face view of one side ofthe other member of the clamp-shoe; Fig. 15, a face view of the oppositeside thereof; Fig. 16, a side view, and Fig. 17 a section of the same onthe line 17 17 of Fig. 14.

As in my before-mentioned patent, the

present improvements comprise a head-rest proper and a support therefor.The headrest proper in this instance has two yieldinglysupported orself-adjusting pads instead of four such pads, as before. These pads A Aare counterparts of each other and are directly connected to theopposite ends or extremities of a curved or bowed supportingbar 13,carried at the upper end of a supporting'arm O, which forms part of thehead-rest support, farther on to be described. The opposite ends orbranches of the supporting-bar are preferably curved inwardly or extendtoward each other. The connections between the pads and thesupporting-bar are balland-sooket joints, preferably constructed asfollows: Each pad is composed of a wood block A, to the back of which isattached a metal base-plate E by means of screws 6, the pad beingprovided with the usual upholstery F. The base-plate E is formed with acentral cylindrical portion extending into a corresponding opening a inthe wood block and constituting a socket E, in which is seated a ball G,rigidly secured to the extremity of one end or branch of thesupporting-arm B, as by screw-threaded connection I). The inner end ofthe opening a. in the wood block A is closed by a metal plate A The ballG, so called, is, in fact, only a half-ball or a little more than ahemisphere, and on its inner surface is provided with a central seat orsocket g, concentric with the outer curved surface of the ball. Asmaller ball H is seated in the ball-socket g, and a rod or pin 1,passing through the ball H and pivoted at its opposite ends in thebase-plate socket E, serves to hold the parts in position. The rod orpin I may be slightly bowed or bent, as shown,

for the purpose of causing it to act as a spring to produce the properamountv of friction in the ball-and-socket joint-that is to say, betweenthe small ball H and the ball G and between said ball G and the socketE. Slots or grooves g are formed in the innersurface of the ball G onopposite sides of the socket g, and the rod 1, which lies in saidgrooves,

is adapted to move therein. It will therefore be seen that each pad iscapable of being rocked about the ball G in a line approximatelyparallel with the supporting-bar B or toward and away from the oppositepad, the rod I rocking with the ball H in the grooves g to permit thismovement. Each pad may also be rocked at an angle to the supporting-bar,the rod I turning in or with the ball H to permit such movement. Owing,however, to the rod I being placed in the grooves g the pad cannot berotated about the ball G, but can only be moved as described. Themovement of the pads when rocked in a line approximately parallel withthe supporting-bar is limited in either direction by the rod I coming incontact with the bottoms of the grooves g, the limit of this movementbeing indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3. The movement of the pads whenrocked at an angle to said supporting-bar is limited in oppositedirections by the plate A comingin contact with the inner face of theball G, thelimit of this movement beingshown in dotted lines, Fig. 4.

It will be observed that, like in my said prior patent, the center ofeach ball-andsocket connection between each pad and its supporting-armis inside the pad, substantially in the center thereof and near itsupholstered surface. 7

The supporting-bar B of the head-rest is formed on its lower edge with apreferably round guide rib or projection B adapted to have horizontalsliding connection with a transverse guideway-groove 0 in the upper endof the supporting-arm O of the support for the head-rest. By thisconstruction the head-rest proper may be adjusted to one side or theother of the said supporting-arm by moving the supporting-bar Blaterally in the supporting-arm, and it may also be rocked backwardlyand forwardly relatively to said arm. A set-screw 0 in thesupporting-arm should be employed for locking the supporting-bar in anyposition to which it may be adjusted.

The support for the head-rest proper is in this instance constructed asfollows: The hereinbefore-mentioned supporting-arm 0, to the upper endof which the head-rest proper is connected, is curved throughout itslength in a line with the front and back of the chair and is adjustablyheld by a clamp having vertically-adjustable connection with thechair-back. This clamp is shown as consisting of two members or sidepieces P P, having vertically-adjustable sliding connection with thechair-back-carrying frame Q by the way of a dovetail guideway Q. Theopposite sides of the supporting-arm are formed with a series ofparallel grooves 0 extending longitudinally thereof and curved tocorrespond therewith. Two-part clamp-shoes are interposed between therespective members oft-he clamp and the adjacent sides of thesupporting-arm. The outer section-of each shoe consists of a disk R,having a lug or bead 4" across one face and which fits in acorresponding groove 19 on the inner surface of the clamp members R, apin 19 in said groove and fitting in a notch r in said lug serving tohold the disk in place. The opposite face of the disk is formed with acentral boss r and concentric ridges r surrounding said boss. The innersection S of each shoe is preferably oblong in shape and is formed onone side with a central socket s and concentric grooves 8', arrangedaround said socket, corresponding with and adapted to engage the bossand ridges on the shoe-section R. The opposite face of the inner sectionS of the shoe is formed with a series of longitudinal parallel ridges 5corresponding to the grooves on the side of the supporting-arm, withwhich they are adapted to engage and have sliding connection. It willthus be seen that the clamp carrying the supporting-arm is not onlycapable of being adjusted up and down upon the chair-back, but that thesupporting-arm is capable of being adjusted up and down and rocked backand forth independently of said clamp. When the supporting-arm isadjusted vertically in the clamp, it moves between the sections S of theshoe, which sections are prevented from moving with said arm by means ofthe engagement of the concentric grooves of the sections of the shoe,and when said arm is rocked back and forth the section S turns on thesection R about the engaging ridges and grooves and boss and socket.

Suitable means are provided for clamping and unclamping the clamp P,said means preferably consisting of a headed bolt T, passing throughholes P in the members of the clamp, and a nut U, screwing upon thethreaded end of the bolt, which projects beyond one of the members ofthe clamp. The nut U is formed with a handle U, by the turning of whichthe members of the clamp may be forced toward each other to clamp thesupporting-arm in any position to which it may be adjusted or to forcesaid members apart to permit said supporting-arm to be freely adjusted.V

The grooves in the supporting-arm and the shoes not only serve to holdthe parts in their proper related positions, but also serve to increasefriction and firmly hold the supporting-arm in position withoutliability of its being accidentally moved by pressure applied to it bythe head of a person seated in the chair to which my improved head-restmay be applied. The pressure of the clamp mem- ISO bers P P on thesupporting-arm is equally distributed by means of the lugs or beads r T,which extend across one face of each section B of the clamp-shoes.

From the above description it will be seen that with a head-rest supportconstructed according to my invention the head-rest is susceptible of avery wide range of adjustment, and when adjusted to any of the variouspositions it may be caused to assume it may be very easily, quickly, andfirmly locked in such position. It will further be seen that thehead-rest properis practically self-ad j usting or automatic inaccommodating itself to any size and shape head, the pads yielding toaccommodate themselves tovarying conditions and firmly supporting thehead the instant the correct position has been attained.

In practice it is only necessary to actuate the handle U to unclamp thesupport, when the supporting-arm may be moved up and down, either bymoving it with the clamp or moving it in the clamp, and swung forwardlyor real-wardly to bring the head-rest to the proper position and thenfirmly locked in position by simply tightening the singleoperating-handle. The pads will then take care of themselves and assumethe necessary positions for afiording the proper support to the patientshead without the manipulation of any clamps, screws, or other lockingdevices for the head-rest proper. This self-adjustment of the head-restis due to the fact that the head-rest pads are independently supportedupon the head-rest-supporting bar by ball-and-socket joints, by reasonof which construction each pad will yield when the head comes in contactwith any point of it until the opposite ends or corners of the padcomein contact with the head, when all movement of the pads ceases.After the pads have been moved until their entire surfaces, or at leasttheir ends or corners, according to the shape of the pads, are broughtin contact with the head they cannot be moved farther by the head nomatter how much pressure is brought to bear upon them. WVhen, however,the head is turned in any direction, the pads immediatelyyieldtoaccommodate themselves to the new position of the head.

When the dentist desires to bring the patients head to one side or otherof the chair and nearer to or farther away from himself, he has but toloosen the set screw 0 and move the head-rest proper to the desiredposition, after which the set-screw may be tightened. In this way, also,the head-rest proper as a whole may be adjusted angularly relatively tothe supporting-arm.

Obviously my improved head-rest proper and the support therefor may beused interchangeably-that is to say, the head rest proper may be used inconnection with any other suitable form of support, and the improvedsupport may be used in connection with head-rests of any suitableconstruction.

Obviously, also, many changes may be made both in the head rest and inthe support therefor without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as confiningmyself to the particular details of construction herein shown anddescribed. For instance, while I prefer that the clamp for thesupporting-arm should have vertically-ad j ustable connection with thechair-back this adjustment of the clamp may be omitted without affectingthe efficiency of the head-rest, inasmuch as the supporting-arm hasvertically-adj ustable connection with said clamp.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a head-rest, of a curvedor bowed supporting-bar the opposite ends or branches of which arecurved inwardly or extend toward each other, a headrest pad connecteddirectly to the extremity of each branch of said supporting-bar,yielding ball-and-socket connections between said pads and theextremities of said branches of the supporting-bar, the center of eachballand-socket connection being inside the respective pads, and meansfor applying frictional tension upon said ball-and-socketconnectionspvhereby the pads are independently movable andself-adjusting, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a head-rest, of a supporting-bar having twobranches, a headrest pad connected to the extremity of each branch ofsaid supporting-bar, yielding balland-socket connections between saidpads and the extremities of said branches of the supporting-bar, meansfor permitting the re spective pads to be independently rocked aboutsaid yielding ball-and-socket connections in a line parallel with saidsupportingbar, and also at angles thereto, and means for preventing saidpads from rotating about said branches of the supporting-bar to whichthey are connected, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, in a head-rest, of a supporting-bar, a half-ballsecured to the extremity thereof and formed on its inner fiat face witha central socket and grooves opening into said socket, a headrest padhaving a metal base-plate provided with a central socket in which thesaid half-ball is seated, a rod secured to said base-plate socket andextending across the same and also passing through the grooves in thehalf-ball, and a smaller ball fitted upon said rod and seated in thesocket of said half-ball, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

4. The combination,.in a head-rest, of a clamp havingvertically-adjustable sliding connection with a chair-back, asupportingarm curved in a line with the front and back of saidchair-back and having vertically-sliding and backward and forwardrocking connection with said clamp below the top of said chair-back,means for locking the clamp and the supporting-arm in any position towhich; they may be adjusted, and a head-rest carried 3 at the upper endof said supporting-arm, substantially as'and for the purpose described.

5. The combination, in a head-rest, of a clamp adapted to be connectedto a chair-back and consisting of-two members movable to-.

ward and away from each other, a supporting-arm between the members ofsaid clamp and vertically adjustable therein, clamp-shoes interposedbetween said supporting-arm and the respective members of said clamp,means .for moving said clamp members toward and away from each other,and a head-rest carried at the upper end of said supporting-arm,substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination, in a head-rest support, of a clamp adapted to beconnected to a chairback and consisting of two members mov- 3 abletoward and away from each other, a curved supportingarm having longitudinally-grooved sides, a sectional clamp-shoe between the respectivemembers of the clamp I and the adjacent sides of the supporting-arm, thesaid supporting-arm having longitudinal; sliding connection with theinner sections of the clamp-shoes and said inner sections of theclamp-shoes having turning connection with the outer sections thereof,and means for moving the members of the clamp toward and away from eachother, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination, in a head-rest support, of a clamp consisting of twomembers, the inner ends of which have vertical sliding engagement with achair-back, a curved sup-

